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Intro

Although Old Stone Fort Archaeological State Park may feel as if it’s worlds away from civilization once you’re inside it, it’s actually in close proximity to all sorts of restaurants and cafes just off Murfreesboro Highway and Interstate 24. What’s more, its very own civilization dates back at least 1,500 years to the days when its earliest known inhabitants lived there, during the Middle Woodland period. Still, there’s no need to venture out for table service when you can fire up your own dinner at one of the park’s 51 campsites, complete with hookups, grills, picnic tables and pads built for campers up to 50 feet long.

What Makes It Great

Aside from its fascinating history, this canopied swath of land is also beautiful to behold, and it’s a hotspot for birding during the spring and fall migration periods. The presence of Wood Ducks in particular, dates back more than 2,000 years to a time when they held special significance to the people who lived there. Fishing and light hiking are also popular pastimes in Old Stone Fort, thanks to its position at the convergence of Little Duck River and Morton Lake and its seven miles of easy going canopied trails, several of which trail along the waterside in sections.

Aside from tent or RV accommodations and full hookups, grills and tables, the campsites also offer a year-round dump station and two restroom facilities, one of which is open all year; the other, which is also the only one with showers, closes in the cold/off-season. The sites feel like they are deep in the woods and are reasonably private. Although fellow sites are nearby, there’s some separation, which keeps the campground from feeling crowded even when it’s full.

Who is Going to Love It

Campers looking for a place with a wooded canopy and a sense of history need look no further than this nearly 900-acre cultural reserve, thick with tree cover and semi-secluded beauty.

Directions, Parking, & Regulations

From Interstate 24, take Murfreesboro Highway to Stone Fort Drive and continue into the park. Make a right onto Campground Lane and follow it around to the sites.

Only certified heat-treated firewood and wood collected within the park is allowed; untreated wood is prohibited from being brought into the park.